06-20-2024, 08:15 PM
With this move, OKC pulls even with Dallas in the on-paper "power rankings." If 1) OKC adds another starter, 2) Dallas cannot retain DJJ, and/or 3) Dallas cannot make moves that offset those two, then OKC pulls ahead.
It seemed to me that lots of talking heads disrespected Dallas's run (and, in the Finals, calumniously attacked Luka's defense, as if him playing defense several notches better than he usually does wasn't a gigantic part of why the Mavs won those first three series - he oughta be able to sue them for outright lying, tbh), but this is the nature of the West. If they don't improve their 8-man rotation - and not just by means of Lively's internal growth or prayin'/wishin'/hopin' about OMax, Green, and/or Hardy - then several other teams in the West are in position to pull past them.
It seemed to me that lots of talking heads disrespected Dallas's run (and, in the Finals, calumniously attacked Luka's defense, as if him playing defense several notches better than he usually does wasn't a gigantic part of why the Mavs won those first three series - he oughta be able to sue them for outright lying, tbh), but this is the nature of the West. If they don't improve their 8-man rotation - and not just by means of Lively's internal growth or prayin'/wishin'/hopin' about OMax, Green, and/or Hardy - then several other teams in the West are in position to pull past them.